Hello Deli Owner: ‘I Haven’t Watched Too Much’ Colbert

In this image taken from video and released by World Wide Pants, Inc., host David Letterman, left, welcomes fellow talk show host Stephen Colbert in 2011.

Associated Press

UPDATED | Late night television fans across the country are weighing in on CBS 's decision to have Stephen Colbert succeed David Letterman on “The Late Show.”

But what about one of Mr. Letterman’s most frequent guests — Rupert Jee, one of the owners of the Hello Deli located next to the Ed Sullivan Theater?

When asked Thursday what he thought about CBS’s announcement, Mr. Jee was cautiously optimistic but acknowledged that he isn’t very familiar with Mr. Letterman’s replacement.

“To be perfectly honest, I haven’t watched too much of Colbert’s work,” he said. “I’m sure he’s extremely competent, and I’m sure he’ll do a great job. It’s a wonderful place to make a show.”

Rupert Jee, one of the owners of the Hello Deli around the corner from the ‘Late Show’ studio.

Nick Pinto for The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Jee, whose store has sat around the corner from Mr. Letterman’s show since 1993, may be among television’s best good sports, frequently serving as a comic foil for Mr. Letterman. The good-natured deli owner has appeared frequently in skits, with Mr. Letterman often poking fun of him as well as the selection of food at the delicatessen. (A good example of Mr. Jee’s willingness to laugh at himself came in March, when he humorously sang the hit song “Let It Go” from “Frozen.”)

Mr. Jee expressed sadness over the end of Mr. Letterman’s long run. “It’s the end of an era,” he said. (It’s also unclear where the new show will be filmed.)

Perhaps it’s not surprising that Mr. Jee has never seen “the Colbert Report.” In a 2005 interview, he told Gothamist that he “never” watched the rival “the Tonight Show” with Jay Leno before saying, “I did watch it one time, because you know there was that big rivalry between the two shows. Just out of curiosity, I wanted to see how special his show was. And I found out it wasn’t.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said Thursday he would call CBS President Les Moonves and urge him to keep the show in New York City:

“With East Coast based host Stephen Colbert taking the reins of the “Late Show,” it’s clear we should keep the show where it belongs – here in New York. I am calling CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves and urging that CBS continue the “Late Show’s” history of filming in New York’s own legendary Ed Sullivan Theater. Our state is a top destination for entertainment businesses to thrive and grow, creating jobs and economic opportunities for communities across the State, and late night programs are a major part of that success. We must ensure that the “Late Show’s” long and proud history of making the nation laugh from New York continues for years to come.”